once more both in theory and practice. An insufferable person, from whom nothing could be learned! "What has he up his sleeve for me to-morrow?"
At home he relieved his feelings. "A fellow as spineless as a jellyfish, and intellectually benighted! God preserve our home from an all-consuming lack of principle, the sure sign of decadence in any family!" He made sure that Kienast had to leave that night. "Magda will have nothing alarming to write to you," he said, à propos of nothing, and laughed. "So far as I am concerned, there may be fire and slaughter in the town, I stick to my office and my family."
Kienast had hardly left when he confronted Frau Hessling. "Well, where is the summons for me to appear in court to-morrow?" She had to admit that she had intercepted the ominous letter. "I would not let it spoil your share in the family happiness, my dear son." But Diederich would hear of no excuses. "Dear son, be damned! I suppose it is for love of me that the food gets worse and worse, except when we have strangers, and the housekeeping money goes on your fiddle-faddle. Do you think you can fool me that Magda made that lace blouse herself? Tell that to the marines!" Magda raised a protest against the insult to her fiancé, but it was no good. "Shut up, you! Your fur coat is half stolen. You women are in league with the servant. When I send her for wine, she brings cheap stuff, and you pocket the difference.…"
The three women were horrified, and Diederich shouted all the louder. Emma declared he was mad just because he was going to make a fool of himself the next day before the whole town. All Diederich could do in reply was to hurl a plate onto the ground. Magda stood up, went out, shouting over her shoulder: "Thank the Lord, I don't need you any more!" At once Diederich ran after her. "Please, mind what you are saying. If you have got a husband at last, you have only me
